Tokyo is the top destination for Chinese New Year travel in 2018

Japan has taken three of the top spots as Kyoto makes an entry for the first time and Osaka moves up from 9th place in 2016 to 3rd top destination for CNY 2018.

Tokyo has overtaken Bangkok as the number one Chinese New Year (CNY) destination for Asian travelers in 2018, a title held by Bangkok for the last two years, according to global online booking platform agoda.

Japan has taken three of the top spots as Kyoto makes an entry for the first time and Osaka moves up from 9th place in 2016 to 3rd top destination for CNY 2018. City escapes have dominated the rankings with only one beach destination – Phuket, Thailand – making the top ten.

The appeal of Tokyo’s nearby Yokohama Chinatown district – which hosts two weeks of events, including a countdown party, traditional lion dance performances, parades, and a Lantern Festival – has attracted travelers from all over the world, with the largest groups of foreign visitors hailing from Taiwan (26%), South Korea (15%) and Mainland China (15%).

Meanwhile other destinations such as Singapore and Chiang Mai have slipped down the rankings: from 3rd place in 2016 to 8th place in 2018 and from 7th place in 2016 to 12th place in 2018, respectively.

2016

2017

2018

1. Bangkok, Thailand

1. Bangkok, Thailand

1. Tokyo, Japan

2. Tokyo, Japan

2. Tokyo, Japan

2. Bangkok, Thailand

3. Singapore

3. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

3. Osaka, Japan

4. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

4. Taipei, Taiwan

4. Taipei, Taiwan

5. Taipei, Taiwan

5. Hong Kong

5. Seoul, South Korea

6. Hong Kong

6. Seoul, South Korea

6. Hong Kong

7. Chiang Mai, Thailand

7. Osaka, Japan

7. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

8. Phuket, Thailand

8. Singapore

8. Singapore

9. Osaka, Japan

9. Chiang Mai, Thailand

9. Kyoto, Japan

10. Bali, Indonesia

10. Pattaya, Thailand

10. Phuket, Thailand

Top ten CNY destinations for Asian travelers

TRAVEL DATA AT A GLANCE:

Mainland China

This year, Hong Kong wrestles back the top spot from Bangkok which slipped to 3rd place for Mainland Chinese travelers this CNY. Meanwhile, Phuket climbs to 2nd most popular spot as guests look for warmer beach resort holidays.

The most popular country overall for Mainland Chinese travelers is Thailand, which has three destinations (Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket) making an appearance in the top five year on year.

2016

2017

2018

1. Bangkok, Thailand

1. Bangkok, Thailand

1. Hong Kong

2. Chiang Mai, Thailand

2. Hong Kong

2. Phuket, Thailand

3. Phuket, Thailand

3. Phuket, Thailand

3. Bangkok, Thailand

4. Hong Kong

4. Chiang Mai, Thailand

4. Tokyo, Japan

5. Taipei, Taiwan

5. Tokyo, Japan

5. Chiang Mai, Thailand

6. Tokyo, Japan

6. Taipei, Taiwan

6. Taipei, Taiwan

7. Bali, Indonesia

7. Bali, Indonesia

7. Osaka, Japan

8. Samui, Thailand

8. Osaka, Japan

8. Sapporo, Japan

9. Boracay Island, Philippines

9. Nha Trang, Vietnam

9. Bali, Indonesia

10. Singapore

10. Kyoto, Japan

10. Boracay Island, Philippines

Top ten CNY destinations for Chinese travelers

Mainland China will also be welcoming the most visitors from Hong Kong (29%) Taiwan (19%) and South Korea (18%).

Hong Kong

Seoul holds on to the number one spot for Hong Kong travelers, however Japan is a big draw in 2018 with six destinations appearing in the top ten, including Fukuoka, Sapporo and Nagoya.

2016

2017

2018

1. Seoul, South Korea

1. Seoul, South Korea

1. Seoul, South Korea

2. Taipei, Taiwan

2. Tokyo, Japan

2. Tokyo, Japan

3. Tokyo, Japan

3. Taipei, Taiwan

3. Osaka, Japan

4. Bangkok, Thailand

4. Osaka, Japan

4. Taipei, Taiwan

5. Osaka, Japan

5. Bangkok, Thailand

5. Bangkok, Thailand

6. Macau

6. Macau

6. Macau

7. Guangzhou, China

7. Guangzhou, China

7. Fukuoka, Japan

8. Pattaya, Thailand

8. Sapporo, Japan

8. Kyoto, Japan

9. Singapore

9. Pattaya, Thailand

9. Sapporo, Japan

10. Okinawa Main Island, Japan

10. Kyoto, Japan

10. Nagoya, Japan

Top ten CNY international destinations for Hong Kong travelers

Indonesia

Indonesians are more inclined to celebrate the Lunar New Year close to home, with 65% of locals preferring to take advantage of the beautiful beaches and bustling cities on offer in their home country. The top three domestic travel destinations this year are Bandung, Bali and Yogyakarta. For those seeking adventure off-shore Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Tokyo are the top international destinations.

2016

2017

2018

1. Bandung, Indonesia

1. Bandung, Indonesia

1. Bandung, Indonesia

2. Bali, Indonesia

2. Jakarta, Indonesia

2. Bali, Indonesia

3. Jakarta, Indonesia

3. Bali, Indonesia

3. Yogyakarta, Indonesia

4. Yogyakarta, Indonesia

4. Yogyakarta, Indonesia

4. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

5. Singapore

5. Surabaya, Indonesia

5. Singapore

6. Malang, Indonesia

6. Singapore

6. Jakarta, Indonesia

7. Surabaya, Indonesia

7. Bogor, Indonesia

7. Tokyo, Japan

8. Bogor, Indonesia

8. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

8. Malang, Indonesia

9. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

9. Semarang, Indonesia

9. Bangkok, Thailand

10. Solo (Surakarta), Indonesia

10. Malang, Indonesia

10. Puncak, Indonesia

Top ten CNY destinations for Indonesian travelers

Japan

Though Tokyo is attracting the most travelers from across Asia for CNY, agoda’s booking data suggests that many Japanese won’t be celebrating locally this year, with 70% taking advantage of the long holiday to go long-haul – with Bangkok, Seoul and Pattaya as the top foreign hotspots for this year’s travelers. Those that do stay locally will be heading to Tokyo, Osaka and Okinawa.

2016

2017

2018

1. Bangkok, Thailand

1. Bangkok, Thailand

1. Bangkok, Thailand

2. Tokyo, Japan

2. Tokyo, Japan

2. Tokyo, Japan

3. Pattaya, Thailand

3. Seoul, South Korea

3. Seoul, South Korea

4. Seoul, South Korea

4. Pattaya, Thailand

4. Pattaya, Thailand

5. Manila, Philippines

5. Manila, Philippines

5. Osaka, Japan

6. Chiang Mai, Thailand

6. Osaka, Japan

6. Manila, Philippines

7. Bali, Indonesia

7. Kyoto, Japan

7. Okinawa Main Island, Japan

8. Taipei, Taiwan

8. Cebu, Philippines

8. Bali, Indonesia

9. Singapore

9. Sapporo, Japan

9. Taipei, Taiwan

10. Osaka, Japan

10. Taipei, Taiwan

10. Cebu, Philippines

Top ten CNY international destinations for Japanese travelers

Malaysia

Malaysians are more inclined to celebrate the Lunar New Year in their own backyard, with nine out of the top ten hot spots domestic destinations. Kuala Lumpur, Malacca and Penang have held the top three spots since 2016, while beaches of Langkawi and the cool climes of Cameron Highlands attract travelers looking to escape the cities.

Thailand is the only foreign country to make the top ten in 2018 with Bangkok and Hait Yai making appearances at 4th and 5th place, respectively.

2016

2017

2018

1. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

1. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

1. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

2. Malacca, Malaysia

2. Malacca, Malaysia

2. Malacca, Malaysia

3. Penang, Malaysia

3. Penang, Malaysia

3. Penang, Malaysia

4. Langkawi, Malaysia

4. Johor Bahru, Malaysia

4. Bangkok, Thailand

5. Port Dickson, Malaysia

5. Bangkok, Thailand

5. Hat Yai, Thailand

6. Johor Bahru, Malaysia

6. Ipoh, Malaysia

6. Langkawi, Malaysia

7. Bangkok, Thailand

7. Langkawi, Malaysia

7. Ipoh, Malaysia

8. Ipoh, Malaysia

8. Port Dickson, Malaysia

8. Port Dickson, Malaysia

9. Cameron Highlands, Malaysia

9. Cameron Highlands, Malaysia

9. Cameron Highlands, Malaysia

10. Kuantan, Malaysia

10. Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia

10. Johor Bahru, Malaysia

Top ten CNY destinations for Malaysian travelers

Singapore

When it comes to CNY travel, Singaporeans favor nearby Southeast Asian destinations, which make up eight of the top ten destinations year on year. Batam Island, Bangkok and Johor Bahru have held the top three spots for Lunar New Year destinations since 2016.

Singaporean travelers hit the beach over CNY, while Tokyo, Taipei and Bangkok are the most popular further flung international destinations.

2016

2017

2018

1. Batam Island, Indonesia

1. Batam Island, Indonesia

1. Batam Island, Indonesia

2. Bangkok, Thailand

2. Johor Bahru, Malaysia

2. Bangkok, Thailand

3. Johor Bahru, Malaysia

3. Bangkok, Thailand

3. Johor Bahru, Malaysia

4. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

4. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

4. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

5. Malacca, Malaysia

5. Malacca, Malaysia

5. Malacca, Malaysia

6. Bali, Indonesia

6. Bali, Indonesia

6. Bali, Indonesia

7. Bintan Island, Indonesia

7. Tokyo, Japan

7. Tokyo, Japan

8. Phuket, Thailand

8. Phuket, Thailand

8. Taipei, Taiwan

9. Tokyo, Japan

9. Bintan Island, Indonesia

9. Phuket, Thailand

10. Hong Kong

10. Taipei, Taiwan

10. Bintan Island, Indonesia

Top ten CNY international destinations for Singaporean travelers

Taiwan

While Taiwanese travelers love to stay and explore Taiwan, those visitors seeking international experiences favor Japan for their CNY celebrations with Tokyo holding the number one destination since 2016. Other Japanese destinations – Okinawa, Osaka and Kyoto – also make an appearance in the CNY top ten for 2018.

2016

2017

2018

1. Tokyo, Japan

1. Tokyo, Japan

1. Tokyo, Japan

2. Kaohsiung, Taiwan

2. Taipei, Taiwan

2. Taipei, Taiwan

3. Taipei, Taiwan

3. Taichung, Taiwan

3. Kaohsiung, Taiwan

4. Osaka, Japan

4. Kaohsiung, Taiwan

4. Taichung, Taiwan

5. Taichung, Taiwan

5. Osaka, Japan

5. Osaka, Japan

6. Tainan, Taiwan

6. Tainan, Taiwan

6. Seoul, South Korea

7. Bangkok, Thailand

7. Seoul, South Korea

7. Tainan, Taiwan

8. Kyoto, Japan

8. Kyoto, Japan

8. Okinawa Main island, Japan

9. Hualien, Taiwan

9. Hualien, Taiwan

9. Kyoto, Japan

10. Seoul, South Korea

10. Yilan, Taiwan

10. Bangkok, Thailand

Top ten CNY destinations for Taiwanese travelers

Taiwan has one-third of travelers hailing from Mainland China, 19% coming from Hong Kong and South Korea (16%) this CNY.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Angelos is the news editor for TravelDailyNews Media Network (traveldailynews.gr, traveldailynews.com and traveldailynews.asia). His role includes to monitor the hundrends of news sources of TravelDailyNews Media Network and skim the most important according to our strategy. He currently studies Communication, Media & Culture in Panteion University of Political & Social Studies of Athens.